Asian markets stuttered, US futures fell and gold hovered near record highs Wednesday after lawmakers in Washington failed to reach a deal to avert a government shutdown.

The prospect of federal services being closed overshadowed optimism the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again, with the crisis possibly causing the postponement of key data used by the bank to decide on policy.

Democrats and Republicans have been unable to bridge their differences on funding the government beyond Tuesday -- the end of the fiscal year -- with both sides blaming each other.

Senate Republicans tried to rubber-stamp a House-passed temporary funding patch -- but could not get the handful of Democratic votes required to send it to President Donald Trump's desk.

Democrats want to see hundreds of bill

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